The play of Billups this post-season has been as good as it gets from the Point Guard position. Looking at the numbers will not do the complete justice for Chauncey, but here are a few to examine. Billups has averaged 37.5 minutes per game and has scored 22.1 and 7.3 assists, but what is most impressive is the assist to turnover ratio of 4.29. To put that into perspective only two times this decade has a player had a higher assist to turnover ratio in the playoffs (played more than one series)-- Jason Kidd in 05-06 at 4.45 and Chris Paul 07-08 6.1. Wait! Wow! What? Chris Paul's assist to turnover was how what last playoffs? WOW!
Moving along though, Billups is protecting the ball and making everyone better like an elite PG is supposed to do. This should not come as a surprise though as this is something Billups has been doing since he turned his career around in Detroit. It is not a coincidence that the Pistons were embarrassed in the first round of the playoffs this year (see http://www.thepineriders.com/2009/04/boo-of-week-429.html) and Billups is on his way to his seventh straight Conference Final.
There is of course more to Chauncey's game than passing and protecting the ball. So far this post-season, and really since his first year in Detroit, Billups has had a knack for scoring when his team needs it the most. If you look at the New Orleans series, for example, Chauncey game right out of the gate and scored 36 and 31 in games 1 and 2. This helped a usually weak imaged Nugget team gain confidence and show that they were not going to be the doormat they have been in years past. As good of a scorer as Carmello Anthony is, I would want the ball in Chauncey's hand with one play to win it.
The last part of Billups' game on the court is the defense. Learning how to play the game from Larry Brown, Billups has that hard nose team defense mentality. Although he did not guard Chris Paul much in the opening round until the 4th quarter, the toughness and physical defense that Chauncey plays rubbed off on the whole Denver team and they slowed down the best PG in the game.
Looking back on a career that has led to 1 NBA title and Finals MVP, 7 straight Conference Finals, 3 All-NBA 2nd/3rd Team selections, 4 All-Star selections & 2 top 10 MVP votings, how can we compare Chauncey Billups to the all time great PGs. Here is a list of some of the all time greats in no particular order and how Chauncey compares:
- Jason Kidd- Kidd is a very unique point guard in the fact he could do things no one else at his position could. Jay Kidd carried two bad teams to back-to-back finals and I think without a big time scorer or a bunch of very good scorers Billups would not be able to do that. Advantage Kidd
- Gary Payton- The Glove was one of the best two way PGs the league has ever seen. Chauncey matches his toughness on defense, but Payton was light years ahead of any point guard I ever seen on that side of the ball. Offensively Payton could put it in with the best of them and distribute just as well. Advantage Payton
- John Stockton- The all-time assist leader is far and away a better passer than Chauncey. Of course he had Karl Malone to dish to, but his assist to turnover ratio is a whole point higher than Chauncey's. Stockton is an all-time legend. Advantage Stockton
- Magic Johnson- HAHHA. Next.
- Kevin Johnson- One of the most underrated players in recent memory, KJ averaged a double double 4 times in his career and came close 3 more times. This is a guy who is a close comparison to Billups, but looking at his scoring numbers, especially in the playoffs, and I have to say KJ wins out. Of course he doesn't have the title that Billups has, but you can chalk that up to Jordan. Advantage Johnson
- Isiah Thomas- As much as I hate the guy, I admire the way Zeke played the game. Isiah could score in the clutch and was the leader of the "Bad Boys" Piston teams. Thomas is the true example of what a PG should be and another all-time great. Advantage Thomas
3 comments:
It's an interesting question to bring up, but I don't think he's anywhere near "all-time great". And I have to disagree with your statement that you would want the ball in Chauncey's hands if you had one shot...he's good, but that's not his job. Carmelo is your scorer.
You ranked some of the best pg's we've ever seen in there, but you kind of ignored a lot of other contemporary guys that Chauncey has played with or against. I'd have a tough time taking Chauncey over Tony Parker, Chris Paul, Deron Williams, Derrick Rose (i know he's a rookie, but we know where he's going), and earlier in his career you probably would have taken a guy like Steve Francis over him. There was never a time in Chauncey's career where you would call him an elite point guard.
Good article though, and it was an interesting point to bring up. This year has been incredible for the guy.
See I dont want to judge Paul, Williams and Rose because they haven't come close to winning yet.
Parker is a one, but I was trying to see if he is an all time player not an all-star.
There is no way I would have ever taken Steve Francis in his prime over Billups in his prime. Francis could score but not much else-- see Jason Terry. Francis had some high assist years but I never thought of him as a true 1.
As far as him over Mello, I didn't explain myself well. I would want Chauncey with the ball because he is the smartest player on the court and will make the right play. If he has to shoot he can finish, but he knows Mello is the first option.
right but francis and chauncey weren't in their primes together. my point was that chauncey was never one of the top pg's in the league at any given time in his career. maybe he is now, but still in a pg draft where do you think you'd take him? 5th, 6th? can't be an all-time great when you were never considered one of the best in the league at your position.
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